Food Reserve Agency (FRA) officials in Livingstone were yesterday morning, at pains to explain why some farmers due to be paid were not appearing on bank confirmation lists submitted by the agency.
The officials claimed they had submitted all names for farmers who supplied maize to the agency but could not clarify why details of eligible farmers were not on the lists submitted to Finance and Investrust banks respectively.
This has resulted in eligible farmers being turned away from the banks without receiving their payments.
Livingstone District Commissioner Paul Sensele visited the FRA offices in a bid to intervene and ensure all farmers were paid, assured the farmers that the situation would be corrected and that the payment schedule will be normalized to cater for all farmers that have not yet been paid.
He said a senior FRA official from Choma had been called to Livingstone to ensure the agency reconciled its records with the banks to include the farmers whose details are still missing.
However, FRA officials who opted to remain anonymous confirmed that funds for payment of farmers and loaders was already in place and that loaders of the maize would be paid this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Charles Sialombwe, a farmer from Kauwe expressed disappointment on how the FRA were handling payment of Kazungula based farmers.
Mr Sialombe said he had supplied 153 by 50 kilograms bags of maize and was given a Produce Receipt and Certification Note (PRCN) but his name was not on the Bank Confirmation list resulting in him not being paid despite being in Livingstone for the past three days.
He accused the FRA of being corrupt as some farmers were being included on the bank confirmation lists through dubious means and at the expense of eligible farmers.
Recently, Vice President Dr Guy Scott re-assured farmers that delays in payment would not be entertained because government had done its part by securing more money to pay them.
yesterday was the last day for the crop marketing season and FRA had a target of purchasing one million metric tones of maize.
ZANIS
These things are normal, our farmers should not be misled by these pocket politians of Hakainde’s calibre. FRA says it has targeted to purchase 1.3 million metric tonnes of maize at a cost of K1.69 trillion in this year’s agriculture marketing season.
The Agency has also set June 1 to October 31st as the period for 2011 agriculture crop marketing.
You sound like a PF (Paya Fama) iddiot. . . .what is normal about peasants supplying maize to your Gov and 8 months down the line they have not been paid their peanuts . . .and the new farming season is already on ! You sound dull you fooool
@ Iwe…., The farmers started supplying maize to the Agency in August and are getting paid now. I never knew that we have already clocked 8months since August. Please use metaphors in the right way. Yes the payments have delayed but within the period the agency announced to conduct its market exercise.
its good to shut up than comment to please you ego.
maize is a very sensitive crop and its marketing should be taken seriously,especially that farmers desperatly need the same cash to start ploughing again.Please PF look into farmers payments.
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